Arson and youth Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Arson and youth - Essay Example Towards the end I would like to point out some of the interventions related to the topic. Arson is a serious crime since it destroys property, kills and injures people and creates unrest in the neighborhoods. Arson is the leading cause of fire in the United States. Approximately 28% of all fires are attributed to arson (Arson in the United States, 1997). According to the statistics provided by the FBI youth arson cases account for almost half of all those who are arrested for arson. These statistics have remained the same for the ninth consecutive year (Focus Adolescent Services, 2000). In 2003 approximately 51% of those arrested for arson were youth under the age of 18. Approximately one third were under fifteen and three percent were under ten years of age. Several studies have been carried out to find out the relationship between youth and arson. It is quite common among children to show interest in playing with fire. For many children this interest in fire play leads them to the act of arson. This behavior can become a habit which makes it a criminal activity (Focus Adolescent Services, 2000). Approximately 60% of the inmates of California Correctional Facility reported arson activities in their youth. Often the age group was under ten years and the first targets were trash cans (Arson in the United States, 1997). Although most of the children do not start fire with malicious intention still the economic and human damage it causes is devastating. It has been estimated that the youth arson is responsible for 300 deaths and 2000 injuries annually and approximately $300 million property damage and approximately 400,000 incidents annually. Juveniles can be arrested for the act of arson. However several factors are considered before arresting a child for arson. These include the age of the child, his history in relation to fire setting and the intention behind fire setting. Although the